Centrosome Transplantation

Abstract

The centrosome, a key microtubule-organizing center, has long been implicated in fundamental cellular processes such as division, polarity, and ciliogenesis. Observations linking centrosomal aberrations to specific cellular states, including senescence and aging, raise a pivotal question: is the centrosome merely a structural casualty of these states, or does it actively encode and transmit information dictating cellular phenotype? This article explores the conceptual framework, methodology, and profound implications of centrosome transplantation, an experimental paradigm designed to answer this question by directly testing causality. We review the historical context of organelle transplantation, detail a comprehensive technical protocol encompassing centrosome isolation, microinjection, and phenotypic analysis, and discuss the significant challenges and alternative approaches. A meta-analysis of pioneering and preliminary data highlights the potential of this method to demonstrate the transfer of age-related traits. We argue that a successful transplantation experiment would constitute a revolution in cell biology, providing definitive proof of non-genetic, organelle-based inheritance of cellular age. This would position the centriole as a strategic custodian of cellular time and open transformative therapeutic avenues focused on rejuvenating the centrosomal machinery in stem cells, thereby offering a novel paradigm for intervening in the aging process.